In 1982, actor Puneet Issar was shooting an action scene for the film Coolie with superstar amitabh Bachchan.
Puneet was supposed to land a staged punch on amitabh, but due to mistimed coordination, the punch accidentally connected in reality.
Amitabh Bachchan fell onto a nearby table, resulting in severe internal injuries that required immediate surgery.
His condition became critical, and the nation prayed for his recovery.
This incident became one of the most shocking and widely remembered accidents in bollywood history.
🔹 Fallout for Puneet Issar
Although it was purely accidental, Puneet Issar faced heavy backlash from the film industry.
Producers and directors grew wary of him because he was known as an 8th-degree black belt, and misconceptions about the accident spread.
As a result, Puneet lost 10 films that he had already signed as the main villain.
His career came to an abrupt halt, and he faced six years of unemployment.
Puneet later shared in an interview that the industry overlooked his credentials, such as being a gold medalist from the Actors Studio and a trained performer.
He was only 23 years old when the incident occurred, making the setback even more difficult.
🔹 Career Revival
Puneet gradually rebuilt his career through fresh opportunities and persistence.
His breakthrough comeback came with the iconic role of Duryodhana in B.R. Chopra’s TV epic Mahabharat (1988–1990), which earned him strong nationwide recognition.
He later expanded into direction and filmmaking, including directing Abhishek Bachchan's debut film “Refugee” and the Salman Khan starrer Garv: Pride and Honour (2004).
Puneet also acted in films such as Sanam Bewafa, where he played Salman Khan’s brother-in-law.
He appeared on Bigg Boss, further reviving his public image.
Despite his revived career, Puneet Issar never worked with amitabh bachchan again after the Coolie accident.
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